Is your perfectionism behavior contributing to your "personal success" or is it stopping you from acquiring what you want in life? Is it standing in your way of "achieving financial freedom"? If there's one thing that can really hamper a person, it's perfectionism. Being a perfectionist can limit your ability to "change the course of your life" and is a handicap to many people. Instead, it is better to operate from a spirit of excellence which is good enough so, don't burden yourself with perfectionism.

Perfectionism is like a wolf in sheep's clothing, because it seems to be heading in the right direction, but it's actually way too much of a good thing. It's good to be interested in excellence, but when you feel that your work has to be perfect you're taking on a burden nobody needs which can affect every area of your life. You won't be able to please yourself at work or at home because nothing and no one is perfect, or ever will be.

Here Are Some Other Ways Perfectionism Hampers You:

1. Perfectionism can lead to isolation. You won't want to let people get too close to you because they might perceive your short-comings. This leaves you without relationships and out of the loop at work and alone at home.

2. Perfectionism also makes you a poor risk-taker; simply because taking risks is often required in business. Perfectionists become dysfunctional when something comes up that they've never seen before or if they're asked to try something different that seems risky to them.

3. When you're a perfectionist, your timidity and concern won't always be perceived that way, and more often it's perceived as arrogance. It appears to others that you think you're better than them because you have an exalted standard of performance for yourself.

4. When your goal is perfection, it becomes difficult to make decisions and to meet deadlines, because you're always trying to out-think yourself.

5. Perfectionists are often micro-managers. They're afraid to let anyone else do anything because of the unrealistic standard of perfection.

As you can see, there are many ways perfectionism holds you back. Excellence is good; perfectionism is not, so don't let yourself fall in that trap. If you have tendencies in that direction, change your self-talk and be easier on yourself. You'll acquire more "personal success" which also contributes to your ability to "achieve financial freedom" and everyone else will appreciate it.

I found the following prayer on perfectionism which I hope can give you a good laugh. Let me know your thoughts on this "way of being" which does not contribute to "personal success"; therefore, does not help us "achieve financial freedom".

"Perfectionist's Prayer"

Dear God --

Help me not be a perfectionist. (Did I spell that correctly?)

Help me to relax about insignificant details, beginning tomorrow at 7:41:23 A.M. EST.

Help me to not try to run everything -- but, if You need some help, please feel free to ask me.

Help me to consider people's feelings even if most of them are hypersensitive.

Help me to take responsibility for the consequences of my actions even though they're usually not my fault.

Help me to be more laid back and help me to do it exactly right.

Help me to take things more seriously; especially laughter, parties, and dancing.

Give me patience and I mean right NOW!

Help me to finish everything I start.

Help me to keep my mind on one thing at a time. "Oh, look, a bird"!

Help me to do only what I can and trust for the rest. And, could I get that in writing?

Keep me open to others' ideas--misguided though they may be.

Help me follow established procedures. Hey, wait -- this is wrong.

Help me slow down andnotrushthroughwhatido.

Thank you. Amen

Author Unknown